'Aquaman 2': Jason Momoa Reveals Ben Affleck Returns As Bruce Wayne In 'The Lost Kingdom'

Thanks to the off-screen controversies surrounding stars Amber Heard and Ezra Miller, the DCEU is currently on shaky ground. Will “The Flash” even get a release? Will DC Films get blowback for having Heard back as Mera in “Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom“? These questions resound more than excited anticipation for these upcoming films.

READ MORE: Amber Heard Almost Didn’t Return For ‘Aquaman 2’ Over “Chemistry” Concerns With Jason Momoa

Maybe the news Jason Momoa dropped on Instagram this week will generate some more positive vibes for the “Aquaman” sequel.  Collider reports that in a statement on his Instagram page, Mamoa revealed that Ben Affleck returns in “The Lost Kingdom” as Bruce Wayne/Batman. It’s the first fans have heard about Affleck’s return in the new movie. The post reads, “REUNITED bruce and arthur. love u and miss u Ben WB studio tours just explored the backlot alright. busted on set all great things coming AQUAMAN 2 all my aloha j.”

Affleck debuted in the DCEU as Wayne in Zack Snyder‘s 2016 film “Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice.” He reprised the role in “Suicide Squad,” “Justice League,” and “Zack Snyder’s Justice League.” Now, with this new cameo, Momoa, Heard, Willem Dafoe, Patrick Wilson, Dolph Lundgren, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Temuera Morrison, Nicole Kidman, and the rest of the “Lost Kingdom” cast.

But don’t get too excited about Affleck’s return in the new “Aquaman” movie.  Michael Keaton, the “OG Batman” who first donned the cape and cowl in Tim Burton‘s “Batman” in 1989, is still set to take over as Bruce Wayne in upcoming DCEU movies. Instead, look at Affleck’s return as a transitional cameo, a way for Bruce Wayne/Batman to show up in “The Lost Kingdom” before Keaton re-debuts in the role in “The Flash,” which now comes out after the new “Aquaman” movie instead of beforehand. Keaton reprises his Wayne role in both “The Flash” and the upcoming “Batgirl” movie, as confirmed by “Batgirl” directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah in June.

As for “The Lost Kingdom,” James Wan returns to direct the sequel to his 2018 film, which ended up as the highest-grossing DCEU film, making $1.148 billion at the global box office. The new movie follows Arthur Curry/Aquaman to the ancient Atlantean Empire as he forges an uneasy alliance with an unlikely ally to save the world. “Aquaman” scribe David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick returns to write the sequel.

So, while it’s exciting that Affleck returns alongside Momoa as Wayne in the upcoming film, it’s likely only a small cameo. Don’t expect a big Batfleck fight, or if that does happen, expect it to be pretty small.  

“Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom” hits theaters on March 17, 2023.